C. Alex McMahan

C. Alex McMahan was born on March 6, 1944, in Greenville SC. He passed away on October 21, 2016, surrounded by his loving family. He was preceded in death by his father, Chalmers Alexander McMahan; his mother, Mabel Shockley McMahan; and his brother, William Jerry McMahan. He is survived by his wife, Linda Bourgeois McMahan; his son, Michael Alex McMahan and his wife, Brooks Floyd McMahan; his daughter, Cindy McMahan Teske and her husband, Ray Teske; his nieces Holly McMahan Larson and Jill McMahan Santini; his granddaughter, Riley Elizabeth Teske; and his granddaughter Scarlett Magnolia McMahan. He was loved and respected by numerous friends and colleagues, who will keep his memory alive through words and actions.

Alex grew up in many locations in the South, before his family settled in New Orleans, where he graduated from Warren Easton High School in 1962. He attended Louisiana State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1966. He earned a Ph.D. in physics from Rice University in 1970, a course of study that included an internship at NASA. During his time in Houston, he fell in love with his wife, Linda, and they married in 1967. Son Michael was born in 1971, while daughter Cindy was born in 1973. He had a deferment from military service for education, but served two years as an officer in the US Army, before being honorably discharged, as the Vietnam War was ending and the need for personnel decreasing.

By the early 1970s, Alex had chosen to pursue a career in statistics, and accepted a position as a biostatistician in the pathology department at the University of Texas Health Science Center, a job from which he retired only recently, in September of 2016. He was a professor and researcher, specializing in atherosclerosis. He loved nothing more than spending time with his family, but also enjoyed photography, reading, birding, travelling and playing solitaire. In addition, he made a significant impact on the lives of numerous young ladies, as he served as the coach of his daughter's softball team from 1984-1990. His passion for the sport, as well as sportsmanship, has been noted by many of his former players, who have praised his role in their development into the women they are today.

He loved spending time with his granddaughters, and could frequently be seen photographing them or attending performances or sporting events. In addition, he was very fond of Mickey Mouse and Disney World, and was pleased to spend two happy weeks in the last two years of his life on family trips to Disney World with both of his granddaughters.

A memorial service will be held on November 15, 2016, at 7:00pm, at Porter Loring North.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to For The Kids Dance Marathon At UTSA, an organization the supports families battling childhood cancer at University Hospital in San Antonio. More information is available at the following link: https://www.razoo.com/us/story/B27hyf